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Stories From PEP

Before joining PEP, Waali was a simple house wife, reserved within her village. She had a secluded life style and she wouldn't socialize much. It was a culture in their community that a woman was to stay in pardah (veil). This meant, Waali was not allowed to move around much out of fear that something might happen to her because she was a woman. She never went to a school and she didn't know much about the life outside her surroundings. Having to follow this culture since childhood, Waali was cut off from lots of knowledge. She had no idea what education was, and neither did she understand anything about women's rights. But, after being encouraged to join the Women Empowerment Programme (WEP) at PEP, Waali felt something change in her thinking. When Waali came to attend the WEG training for the first time, she never imagined that she would learn so much! It was a complete new thing for her getting to know different people, as she was trying to participate with the other ladies at the training. She was very nervous at the beginning, but later on she turned out to be the most devoted participant. During the WEG training, she learned about her rights and how to speak for them. She came to understand how education was the key to an abundant life. Now she realizes that education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty and gain respect for her family from her community. While sharing her testimony, Waali said, "It is easy to differentiate between an educated and an uneducated woman. An uneducated woman will not be able to speak up and will hide away from people. But, an educated woman will be different. She can face people." As Waali gradually went through the process of transformation she became a role model for other women too. Today, Waali is a facilitator for the Women's Empowerment Group in her village. She leads a group of 30 women and she teaches them all that she learnt through the women's training at PEP.

When Waali's family saw the way she worked with great efforts to brighten the knowledge of other women, they were proud and they supported her more strongly than before.Waali is an incredible supporter of girls' education, and through her efforts, 20 girls from her village have been enrolled in a PEP school.

This picture is from last day of the WEG training. The three women are performing a tribal dance, of which Waali is a part (at the right side with the pink dress).